University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Rowing Learning Lessons On California Swing
March 12, 2000 | Women's Rowing
March 12, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif.-In a reversal of fortunes from Saturday's racing, the University of North Carolina novice eight finished Sunday's race against Southern California victorious, while the varsity boats learned lessons they hope to apply in UNC's next competition.
Racing against powerful Southern California on rough water at the Port of Los Angeles, the novice eight turned in a time of 8:04.5 to USC's 8:17.1. The novice crew had fallen Saturday to San Diego State, while Carolina's varsity boats won.
Southern Cal, ranked fourth in the nation, overpowered UNC's varsity eight with a time of 6:40.9 to Carolina's 6:58.6. USC's second varsity eight also was victorious, with a time of 7:09.0 to UNC's 7:21.3.
"The novices learned the lessons on Saturday that we hoped they would," Tar Heel coach Joel Furtek said. "They went out relaxed today and put in a good race.
"The varsity had to learn some lessons today that the novices learned yesterday. Both boats came off the line a little bit rushed and not really into their race plans. When we failed to execute the way we wanted, we got the results you see. Overall, it was a learning day for the varsity and a break-through day for the novices."
The Tar Heels will practice in San Diego on Monday then travel north to race Division II-power California-Davis on Tuesday at the Port of Sacramento. Carolina will then compete twice more-against California State-Sacramento and California-Berkeley-before wrapping up what so far has been a very successful spring break trip.
"We're learning a lot and really coming together as a team," Furtek said. "The weather has been wonderful and we're having a great time. This trip has been all we'd hoped and more."
